Garden Bean Variety Thompson

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides novel garden bean cultivar Thompson and plant parts, seed, and tissue culture therefrom. The invention also provides methods for producing a bean plant by crossing the bean plants of the invention with themselves or another bean plant. The invention also provides bean plants produced from such a crossing as well as plant parts, seed, and tissue culture therefrom.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is in the field of garden bean plants, in particular, the invention relates to novel garden bean cultivar Thompson.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a garden bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) variety designated Thompson.

Garden beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are leguminous plants in the family Fabaceae and produce edible pod fruits, which can be eaten in the immature (green) state. The most common types of green beans include snap beans (also known as string beans), which have a fibrous “string” running the length of the pod, and stringless (or French beans), which lack the string. Commercially grown garden beans include “pole bean” cultivars, which have a climbing habit and “bush beans” that have a more bushy growth habit.

Garden bean is an important and valuable vegetable crop for both the fresh and processed markets. Thus, there is an ongoing need for improved garden bean varieties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a novel garden bean cultivar designated and referred to herein as Thompson, also known as SB4773. The invention also encompasses the seeds of bean cultivar Thompson, the plants of bean cultivar Thompson, plant parts of the bean cultivar Thompson (including pods, berries, seeds, gametes), methods of producing seed from bean cultivar Thompson, and methods for producing a bean plant by crossing the bean cultivar Thompson with itself or another bean plant, methods for producing a bean plant of cultivar Thompson containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes, and the transgenic bean plants produced by that method. The invention also relates to methods for producing other bean plants derived from bean cultivar Thompson and to bean plants, parts thereof and seed derived by the use of those methods. The present invention further relates to bean seeds and plants (and parts thereof including pods and/or berries) produced by crossing bean cultivar Thompson with itself or with another bean plant (e.g., an F1 hybrid seed or plant).

In another aspect, the present invention provides regenerable cells for use in tissue culture of bean cultivar Thompson. In embodiments, the tissue culture is capable of regenerating plants having all or essentially all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of the foregoing bean plant and/or of regenerating plants having the same or substantially the same genotype as the foregoing bean plant. In exemplary embodiments, the regenerable cells in such tissue cultures are meristematic cells, cotyledons, hypocotyl, leaves, pollen, embryos, roots, root tips, anthers, pistils, ovules, shoots, stems, petiole, pith, flowers, capsules, pods, berries and/or seeds as well as callus and/or protoplasts derived from any of the foregoing. Still further, the present invention provides bean plants regenerated from the tissue cultures of the invention.

As a further aspect, the invention provides a method of producing bean seed, the method comprising crossing a plant of bean cultivar Thompson with itself or a second bean plant. Bean cultivar Thompson can be the female and/or male parent. Optionally, the method further comprises collecting the seed.

The invention further provides a method of producing a progeny bean plant, the method comprising crossing a plant of bean cultivar Thompson with itself or a second bean plant to produce at least a first progeny plant, which may optionally be a selfed plant or an F1 hybrid. Bean cultivar Thompson can be the female and/or male parent.

Another aspect of the invention provides methods for producing hybrids and other bean plants derived from bean cultivar Thompson. Bean plants derived by the use of those methods are also part of the invention as well as plant parts, seed, gametes and tissue culture from such hybrid or derived bean plants.

In representative embodiments, a bean plant derived from bean cultivar Thompson comprises cells comprising at least one set of chromosomes derived from bean cultivar Thompson. In embodiments, a bean plant or population of bean plants derived from bean cultivar Thompson comprises, on average, at least about 6.25%, 12.5%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% of its alleles from bean cultivar Thompson, e.g., at least about 6.25%, 12.5%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% of the genetic complement of bean cultivar Thompson. In embodiments, the bean plant derived from bean cultivar Thompson is one, two, three, four, five or more breeding crosses removed from bean cultivar Thompson.

In embodiments, a hybrid or derived plant from bean cultivar Thompson comprises a desired added trait(s). In representative embodiments, a bean plant derived from bean cultivar Thompson comprises some or all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of bean cultivar Thompson (e.g., as described herein, in particular, in Tables 1 to 3). In embodiments, the bean plant derived from bean cultivar Thompson comprises essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of bean cultivar Thompson (e.g., as described herein, in particular, in Tables 1 to 3), with the addition of a desired added trait(s).

The invention also relates to methods for producing a bean plant comprising in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic bean plant produced by those methods (and progeny bean plants comprising the transgene). Also provided are plant parts, seed and tissue culture from such transgenic bean plants, optionally wherein one or more cells in the plant part, seed, or tissue culture comprises the transgene. The transgene can be introduced via plant transformation and/or breeding techniques.

In another aspect, the present invention provides for single locus converted plants of bean cultivar Thompson. Plant parts, seed, and tissue culture from such single locus converted plants are also contemplated by the present invention. The single locus may be a dominant or recessive allele. In representative embodiments, the single transferred locus confers such traits as male sterility, herbicide resistance, pest resistance (e.g., insect and/or nematode resistance), modified fatty acid metabolism, modified carbohydrate metabolism, disease resistance (e.g., for bacterial, fungal and/or viral disease), male fertility, enhanced nutritional quality, improved appearance (e.g., color), improved salt tolerance, industrial usage, or any combination thereof. The single locus may be a naturally occurring bean locus or a transgene introduced into bean. through genetic engineering techniques.

The invention further provides methods for developing bean plants in a bean plant breeding program using plant breeding techniques including, for example, recurrent selection, backcrossing, pedigree breeding, double haploid techniques, restriction fragment length polymorphism enhanced selection, genetic marker enhanced selection and/or transformation. Seeds, bean plants, and parts thereof, produced by such breeding methods are also part of the invention.

The invention also provides methods of multiplication or propagation of bean plants of the invention, which can be accomplished using any method known in the art, for example, via vegetative propagation and/or seed.

The invention further provides a method of producing food or feed comprising (a) obtaining a bean plant of the invention, optionally wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity, and (b) collecting at least one bean plant or part thereof (e.g., pods or berries) from the plant. In embodiments, obtaining a bean plant comprises growing the plant.

Additional aspects of the invention include harvested products and processed products from the bean plants of the invention. A harvested product can be a whole plant or any plant part, as described herein. Thus, in some embodiments, a non-limiting example of a harvested product includes a seed, a pod and/or a berry.

In representative embodiments, a processed product includes, but is not limited to: dehydrated, cut, sliced, ground, pureed, dried, canned, jarred, washed, brined, packaged, refrigerated, frozen and/or heated pods, berries and/or seeds of the bean plants of the invention, or any other part thereof. In embodiments, a processed product includes a sugar or other carbohydrate, fiber, protein and/or aromatic compound that is extracted, purified or isolated from a bean plant of the invention. In embodiments, the processed product includes washed and packaged pods and/or berries (or parts thereof) of the invention, for example, in a canned or frozen form.

Thus, the invention also provides a method of producing a processed product from a plant of the invention, the method comprising (a) obtaining a pod or berry of a plant of the invention; and (b) processing the pod or berry to produce a processed product. In embodiments, processing comprises canning, jarring and/or freezing.

The invention provides seed of the bean plants of the instant invention. In representative embodiments, the invention provides a seed of a bean plant of the invention. In embodiments, the invention is directed to seed that produces the bean plants of the invention.

The seed of the invention can optionally be provided as an essentially homogenous population of seed of a single plant or cultivar. Essentially homogenous populations of seed are generally free from substantial numbers of other seed, e.g., at least about 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% pure.

As a further aspect, the invention provides a plant of bean cultivar Thompson.

As an additional aspect, the invention provides a bean plant, or a part thereof, having all or essentially all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of a plant of bean cultivar Thompson.

As another aspect, the invention provides pods, berries and/or seed of the bean plants of the invention and a processed product from the pods, berries and/or seed of the inventive bean plants.

As still another aspect, the invention provides a method of producing bean seed, the method comprising crossing a bean plant of the invention with itself or a second bean plant. The invention also provides seed produced by this method and plants produced by growing the seed.

As yet a further aspect, the invention provides a method for producing a seed of a bean plant derived from bean cultivar Thompson, the method comprising: (a) crossing a plant of bean cultivar Thompson with a second bean plant; (b) allowing seed to form; (c) growing a plant from the seed of step (b) to produce a plant derived from bean cultivar Thompson; (d) selfing the plant of step (c) or crossing it to a second bean plant to form additional bean seed derived from bean cultivar Thompson; and (e) optionally repeating steps (c) and (d) one or more times (e.g., one, two, one to three, one to five, one to six, one to seven, one to ten, three to five, three to six, three to seven, three to eight or three to ten times) to generate further derived bean seed from bean cultivar Thompson, wherein in step (c) a plant is grown from the additional bean seed of step (d) in place of growing a plant from the seed of step (b). As another option, in embodiments, the method comprises collecting the bean seed. The invention also provides seed produced by these methods and plants produced by growing the seed.

As another aspect, the invention is also directed to a method of producing a pod comprising obtaining a plant according to the instant invention and harvesting a pod from the plant. In embodiments, obtaining a plant of the invention comprises growing the plant to produce a pod. In one embodiment, the method further comprises processing the pod to obtain a berry or seed. In one embodiment, a berry according the instant invention is a fresh product or a processed product (e.g., a canned product or a frozen product).

The invention is also directed to a method of producing a berry or seed comprising obtaining a pod of a plant according to the instant invention and processing the pod to obtain a berry or seed. In one embodiment, a berry according the instant invention is a fresh product or a processed product (e.g., a canned product or a frozen product).

Still further, as another aspect, the invention provides a method of vegetatively propagating a plant of bean cultivar Thompson. In a non-limiting example, the method comprises: (a) collecting tissue capable of being propagated from a plant of bean cultivar Thompson; (b) cultivating the tissue to obtain proliferated shoots; and (c) rooting the proliferated shoots to obtain rooted plantlets. Optionally, the invention further comprises growing plants from the rooted plantlets. The invention also encompasses the plantlets and plants produced by these methods.

As an additional aspect, the invention provides a method of introducing a desired added trait into bean cultivar Thompson, the method comprising: (a) crossing a first plant of bean cultivar Thompson with a second bean plant that comprises a desired trait to produce F₁ progeny; (b) selecting an F₁ progeny that comprises the desired trait; (c) crossing the selected F₁ progeny with bean cultivar Thompson to produce backcross progeny; and (d) selecting backcross progeny comprising the desired trait to produce a plant derived from bean cultivar Thompson comprising a desired trait. In embodiments, the selected progeny has one or more of the characteristics of Thompson (e.g., as described herein, in particular, in Tables 1 to 3). In embodiments, the selected progeny comprises all or essentially all the morphological and physiological characteristics of bean cultivar Thompson. Optionally, the method further comprises: (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) one or more times (e.g., one, two, one to three, one to five, one to six, one to seven, one to ten, three to five, three to six, three to seven, three to eight or three to ten times) to produce a plant derived from bean cultivar Thompson comprising the desired trait, wherein in step (c) the selected backcross progeny produced in step (d) is used in place of the selected F1 progeny of step (b).

In representative embodiments, the invention also provides a method of producing a plant of bean cultivar Thompson comprising a desired added trait, the method comprising introducing a transgene conferring the desired trait into a plant of bean cultivar Thompson. The transgene can be introduced by transformation methods (e.g., genetic engineering) or breeding techniques. In embodiments, the plant comprising the transgene has one or more of the morphological and physiological characteristics of Thompson (e.g., as described herein, in particular, in Tables 1 to 3). In embodiments, the plant comprising the transgene comprises all or essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of bean cultivar Thompson.

The invention also provides bean plants produced by the methods of the invention or a selfed progeny thereof, wherein the bean plant has the desired added trait as well as seed from such bean plants.

According to the foregoing methods, the desired added trait can be any suitable trait known in the art including, for example, male sterility, male fertility, herbicide resistance, insect or pest (e.g., insect and/or nematode) resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, modified carbohydrate metabolism, disease resistance (e.g., for bacterial, fungal and/or viral disease), enhanced nutritional quality, increased sweetness, increased flavor, improved ripening control, improved salt tolerance, industrial usage, or any combination thereof.

In representative embodiments, a transgene conferring herbicide resistance confers resistance to glyphosate, sulfonylurea, imidazolinone, dicamba, glufosinate, phenoxy proprionic acid, L-phosphinothricin, cyclohexone, cyclohexanedione, triazine, benzonitrile, or any combination thereof.

In representative embodiments, a transgene conferring pest resistance (e.g., insect and/or nematode resistance) encodes a Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxin.

In representative embodiments, transgenic plants, single locus converted plants, hybrid plants and bean plants derived from bean cultivar Thompson have at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more of the morphological and physiological characteristics of bean cultivar Thompson (e.g., as described herein, in particular, in Tables 1 to 3) in any combination, or even all or essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of bean cultivar Thompson, so that said plants are not significantly different for said traits than bean cultivar Thompson, as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions; optionally, with the presence of one or more desired additional traits (e.g., male sterility, disease resistance, pest or insect resistance, herbicide resistance, and the like).

In embodiments, the plants of the invention have at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more of the morphological and physiological characteristics of bean cultivar Thompson (e.g., as described in Tables 1 to 3). In embodiments, the plants of the invention are significantly wider as compared with variety Huntington. In embodiments, the plants of the invention produce pods having significantly more seeds per pod than variety Huntington.

The invention also encompasses plant parts, plant material, pollen, ovules, leaves, berries, pods and seed from the bean plants of the invention. Also provided is a tissue culture of regenerable cells from the bean plants of the invention, where optionally, the regenerable cells are: (a) embryos, meristem, leaves, pollen, cotyledons, hypocotyls, roots, root tips, anthers, flowers, pistils, ovules, seed, shoots, stems, stalks, petioles, pith, pods, berries and/or capsules; or (b) callus or protoplasts derived from the cells of (a). Further provided are bean plants regenerated from a tissue culture of the invention.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a method of determining a genetic characteristic of bean cultivar Thompson or a progeny thereof, e.g., a method of determining a genotype of bean cultivar Thompson or a progeny thereof. In embodiments, the method comprises detecting in the genome of a Thompson plant, or a progeny plant thereof, at least a first polymorphism. To illustrate, in embodiments, the method comprises obtaining a sample of nucleic acids from the plant and detecting at least a first polymorphism in the nucleic acid sample. Optionally, the method may comprise detecting a plurality of polymorphisms (e.g., two or more, three or more, four or more, five or more, six or more, eight or more or ten or more polymorphisms, etc.) in the genome of the plant. In representative embodiments, the method further comprises storing the results of the step of detecting the polymorphism(s) on a computer readable medium. The invention further provides a computer readable medium produced by such a method.

In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, the invention is described in more detail in the description of the invention set forth below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based, in part, on the development of a novel bean variety designated Thompson.

It should be appreciated that the invention can be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The terminology used in the description of the invention herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention.

Unless the context indicates otherwise, it is specifically intended that the various features and embodiments of the invention described herein can be used in any combination.

Moreover, the present invention also contemplates that in some embodiments of the invention, any feature or combination of features set forth herein can be excluded or omitted. To illustrate, if the specification states that a composition comprises components A, B and C, it is specifically intended that any of A, B or C, or a combination thereof, can be omitted and disclaimed singularly or in any combination.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The terminology used in the description of the invention herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention.

All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Definitions.

In the description and table that follow, a number of terms are used. In order to provide a clear and consistent understanding of the specification and claims, including the scope to be given such terms, the following definitions are provided:

As used in the description of the invention and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

As used herein, “and/or” refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items, as well as the lack of combinations when interpreted in the alternative (“or”).

The term “about,” as used herein when referring to a measurable value such as a dosage or time period and the like, is meant to encompass variations of ±20%, ±10%, ±5%, ±1%, ±0.5%, or even ±0.1% of the specified amount.

The term “comprise,” “comprises” and “comprising” as used herein, specify the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

As used herein, the transitional phrase “consisting essentially of” means that the scope of a claim is to be interpreted to encompass the specified materials or steps recited in the claim “and those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s)” of the claimed invention. See, In re Herz, 537 F.2d 549, 551-52, 190 U.S.P.Q. 461, 463 (CCPA 1976) (emphasis in the original); see also MPEP § 2111.03. Thus, the term “consisting essentially of” when used in a claim or the description of this invention is not intended to be interpreted to be equivalent to “comprising.”

“Allele”. An allele is any of one or more alternative forms of a gene, all of which relate to a trait or characteristic. In a diploid cell or organism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding loci on a pair of homologous chromosomes.

“Backcrossing”. Backcrossing is a process in which a breeder repeatedly crosses hybrid progeny back to one of the parents, for example, a first generation hybrid F₁ with one of the parental genotype of the F₁ hybrid.

“Cotyledon”. One of the first leaves of the embryo of a seed plant; typically one or more in monocotyledons, two in dicotyledons, and two or more in gymnosperms.

“Determinate Plant”. A determinate plant will grow to a fixed number of nodes while an indeterminate plant will continue to grow during the season. Determinate plants generally have a high pod to vine weight ratio.

“Double haploid line”. A stable inbred line achieved by doubling the chromosomes of a haploid line, e.g., from anther culture. For example, some pollen grains (haploid) cultivated under specific conditions develop plantlets containing 1 n chromosomes. The chromosomes in these plantlets are then induced to “double” (e.g., using chemical means) resulting in cells containing 2n chromosomes. The progeny of these plantlets are termed “double haploid” and are essentially non-segregating (e.g., are stable). The term “double haploid” is used interchangeably herein with “dihaploid.”

“Essentially all the physiological and morphological characteristics”. A plant having “essentially all of the physiological and morphological characteristics” (and similar phrases) means a plant having all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of bean cultivar Thompson, except for the characteristic(s) derived from a converted locus/loci (e.g., a single converted locus), for example, introduced via backcrossing to variety Thompson, a modified gene(s) resulting from genome editing techniques, an introduced transgene (e.g., introduced via genetic transformation techniques) or mutation, when both plants are grown under the same environmental conditions. In embodiments, a plant having “essentially all of the physiological and morphological characteristics” means a plant having all of the characteristics of the reference plant with the exception of five or fewer traits, 4 or fewer traits, 3 or fewer traits, 2 or fewer traits, or one trait. In embodiments, a plant having “essentially all of the physiological and morphological characteristics” (and similar phrases) optionally has all of the physiological and morphological characteristics described in Table 1.

“Field holding ability”. A bean plant that has good field holding ability means a plant having pods that remain smooth and retain their color event after the seed is almost fully developed.

“First water date”. The date the seed first receives adequate moisture to germinate. This can and often does equal the planting date.

“Gene”. As used herein, “gene” refers to a segment of nucleic acid comprising an open reading frame. A gene can be introduced into a genome of a species, whether from a different species or from the same species, using transformation or various breeding methods.

“Genetic complement”. As used herein, a “genetic complement” refers to the total genetic make-up of the plant.

“Inbred line”. As used herein, the phrase “inbred line” refers to a genetically homozygous or nearly homozygous population. An inbred line, for example, can be derived through several cycles of sib crossing and/or selfing and/or via double haploid production. In some embodiments, inbred lines breed true for one or more traits of interest. An “inbred plant” or “inbred progeny” is an individual sampled from an inbred line.

“Machine harvestable plant”. A machine harvestable bush means a bean plant that stands with pods off the ground. The pods can be removed by a machine from the plant substantially without leaves and other plant parts being harvested.

“Maturity date”. Plants are considered mature when the pods have reached their maximum desirable seed size and sieve size for the specific use intended.

“Node”. A node is the thickened enlargement on a plant. It is where the stipules, leaf and peduncle arise.

“Nodes to 1^(st) flower”. The number of nodes to 1^(st) flower is obtained by counting the number of nodes from above the point of cotyledon attachment to the node from which the first peduncle arises.

“Bean” and “garden bean”. As used herein, the term “bean” or “garden bean” includes any bean classified as a Phaseolus, including P. vulgaris. Thus, the term “bean” or “garden bean” encompasses all categories of green beans (producing pods eaten in the immature state) including without limitation snap beans, stringless beans, wax beans, pole beans, bush beans, and the like, as well as dry beans. In embodiments, the “bean” or “garden” bean is a green bean.

“Bean Yield” (Tons/Acre). The yield in tons/acre is the actual yield of the beans at harvest.

“Peduncle”. A peduncle is the stalk that bearing flower (s) and subsequent pod(s) arising from a node.

“Plant.” As used herein, the term “plant” includes plant cells, plant protoplasts, plant cell tissue cultures from which plants can be regenerated, plant calli, plant clumps, and plant cells that are intact in plants or parts of plants, such as leaves, pollen, embryos, cotyledons, hypocotyl, roots, root tips, anthers, pistils, flowers, ovules, seeds, stems, berries, pods, and the like.

“Plant adaptability”. A plant having good plant adaptability means a plant that will perform well in different growing conditions and seasons.

“Plant Height”. Plant height is taken from the top of soil to top most leaf of the plant.

“Plant material”. The terms “plant material” and “material obtainable from a plant” are used interchangeably herein and refer to any plant material obtainable from a plant including without limitation, leaves, stems, roots, flowers or flower parts, fruits, pollen, ovules, zygotes, pods, berries, seeds, cuttings, cell or tissue cultures, or any other part or product of the plant.

“Plant part”. As used herein, a “plant part” includes any part, organ, tissue or cell of a plant including without limitation an embryo, meristem, leaf, pollen, cotyledon, hypocotyl, root, root tip, anther, flower, flower bud, pistil, ovule, seed, shoot, stem, stalk, petiole, pith, capsule, a scion, a rootstock, pod, berry and/or a fruit including callus and protoplasts derived from any of the foregoing.

“Progeny”. As used herein, “progeny” refers to descendant(s) plants, sometimes in reference to a particular cross. Progeny can result from breeding of two individuals or from selfing (i.e., the same plant acts as the donor of both male and female gametes). The descendant(s) can be, for example, of the F1, the F2, or any subsequent generation.

“Sieve Size” (sv). Sieve size measures the diameter of the fresh pod and is used in grading beans. Sieve size 1 means pods that fall through a sieve grader which culls out pod diameters of 4.76 mm through 5.76 mm. Sieve size 2 means pods that fall through a sieve grader which culls out pod diameters of 5.76 mm through 7.34 mm. Sieve size 3 means pods that fall through a sieve grader which culls out pod diameters of 7.34 mm through 8.34 mm. Sieve size 4 means pods that fall through a sieve grader which culls out pod diameters of 8.34 mm through 9.53 mm. Sieve size 5 means pods that fall through a sieve grader which culls out pod diameters of 9.53 mm through 10.72 mm. Sieve size 6 means pods that fall through a sieve grader that will cull out pod diameters of 10.72 mm or larger.

“Quantitative Trait Loci”. Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) refers to genetic loci that control to some degree, numerically representable traits that are usually continuously distributed.

“Regeneration”. Regeneration refers to the development of a plant from tissue culture.

“Resistance”. As used herein the terms “resistance” and “tolerance” (and grammatical variations thereof) are used interchangeably to describe plants that show reduced or essentially no symptoms to a specific biotic (e.g., a pest, pathogen or disease) or abiotic (e.g., exogenous or environmental, including herbicides) factor or stressor. In some embodiments, “resistant” or “tolerant” plants show some symptoms but are still able to produce marketable product with an acceptable yield, e.g., the yield may still be reduced and/or the plants may be stunted as compared with the yield or growth in the absence of the biotic and/or abiotic factor or stressor. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the degree of resistance or tolerance may be assessed with respect to a plurality or even an entire field of plants. A bean plant may be considered “resistant” or “tolerant” if resistance/tolerance is observed over a plurality of plants (e.g., an average), even if particular individual plants may be susceptible to the biotic or abiotic factor or stressor.

“RHS”. RHS refers to the Royal Horticultural Society of England which publishes an official botanical color chart quantitatively identifying colors according to a defined numbering system. The chart may be purchased from Royal Horticulture Society Enterprise Ltd., RHS Garden; Wisley, Woking; Surrey GU236QB, UK.

“Single locus converted”. A single locus converted or conversion plant refers to a plant that is developed by plant breeding techniques (e.g., backcrossing), genome editing techniques, genetic transformation techniques and/or mutation techniques wherein essentially all of the desired morphological and physiological characteristics of a line are recovered in addition to the single locus introduced into the line via the plant breeding, genome editing, genetic transformation, or mutation techniques.

“Stipules”. A pair of leaf-like appendages borne at the base of each bean leaf or stalk.

“Substantially equivalent characteristic”. A characteristic that, when compared, does not show a statistically significant difference (e.g., p=0.05) from the mean.

“Transgene”. A nucleic acid of interest that can be introduced into the genome of a plant by genetic engineering techniques (e.g., transformation) or breeding. The transgene can be from the same or a different species. If from the same species, the transgene can be an additional copy of a native coding sequence or can present the native sequence in a form or context (e.g., different genomic location and/or in operable association with exogenous regulatory elements such as a promoter) than is found in the native state. The transgene can comprise an open reading frame encoding a polypeptide or can encode a functional non-translated RNA (e.g., RNAi).

“Transverse Cracking” (TVC). Transverse cracking “TVC” refers to a transverse splitting of the seed body, which may be observed at the emerged cotyledon stage of growth. In general, seed with TVC has lower germ and vigor resulting in a lower stand and uneven stand, both of which can lead to yield loss and a non-uniform product.

Botanical Description of Garden Bean Cultivar Thompson.

Garden bean Thompson is a new cultivar particularly suitable for the processing market, but is also suitable for the fresh market. Thompson produces light green and primarily 3-sieve and 4-sieve pods and has a wider plant spread than variety Huntington.

Thompson is a fixed line and has shown uniformity and stability for its characteristic traits, within the limits of environmental influence. It has been self-pollinated a sufficient number of generations with careful attention to uniformity of plant type. The variety has been increased with continued observation for uniformity.

The physiological and morphological characteristics of garden bean Thompson are shown below in Table 1, based on observations from field plots in Nampa, Id.

TABLE 1 Variety Description Information. Type Garden bean Market Maturity Days to Edible Pods 54 days Heat Units to Edible Pods 1145 Number of Days Earlier/Later than 2 day earlier than the Comparison Variety Huntington Plant Spacing Between Plants in Row  5 cm Habit Determinate Height (cm) 32 cm Number of cm Shorter/Taller than 1 cm taller than the Comparison Variety Huntington Plant Spread/Width (cm) 55 cm Number if cm Wider/Narrower than 26 cm wider the Comparison Variety than Huntington Pod Position Scattered Bush Form High bush Leaves Surface Indeterminate Size Medium Color Medium green Anthocyanin Pigment (1 = absent; 2 = present) Flowers 1 Stems 1 Pods 1 Seeds 1 Leaves 1 Petioles 1 Peduncles 1 Nodes 1 Flower Color/Days to Bloom Color of Standard White Color of Wings White Color of Keel White Pods (at edible maturity) Exterior Color (fresh) Light green Exterior Color (processed) Light (Tender Crop) Dry Pod Color Buckskin (Sprite) Cross Section Pod Shape Round Crease Back Absent Pubescence Sparse Constriction (Interlocular Cavitation) None Spur Length (mm) 9 mm Fiber None Number of seeds/pod 7 Suture String Absent Seed Development Slow Machine Harvest Adapted (Adapted/Not adapted) Percent Sieve Size Distribution at Optimum Maturity for Not-Flat Pods 4.76 to 5.76 mm  0% 5.76 to 7.34 mm  0% 7.34 to 8.34 mm 36% 8.34 to 9.53 mm 63% 9.53 to 10.72 mm  0% >10.72 mm  0% 3 sieve: 12 cm length, 8 mm width, 9 mm thickness 4 sieve: 13 cm length, 8 mm width, 8 mm thickness 5 sieve: N/A 6 sieve: N/A Seed Color Seed Coat Luster Dull Seed Coat Monochrome Primary Color White Secondary Color N/A Seed Coat Pattern Solid Hilar Ring Present Hilar Ring Color Buff Seed Shape and Size Hilum View Oval Cross Section Oval Side View Oval to oblong grams/100 seeds 21 gm 4 grams/100 seeds lighter than Comparison Variety Huntington {close oversize brace} grams/100 seeds same as N/A grams/100 seeds heavier than N/A Disease Resistance Anthracnose (Colletotrichum lindemuthianum) Susceptible Bean Rust (Uromyces appendiculatus) Susceptible Halo Blight (Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaselicola) Resistant Bean Common Mosaic Virus (BCMV) Resistant

As a further characteristic of variety Thompson, as demonstrated in Table 2 below, Thompson produces significantly more seeds per pod as compared with garden bean variety Huntington. Further, as shown in Table 3, Thompson produces a significantly wider plant than variety Huntington. Twenty observations were made from each variety in Nampa, Id. A detailed statistical analysis (using Statistix 9.0 software) is provided in Tables 2 and 3 below.

TABLE 2 Number of seeds per pod comparison between Thompson and Huntington based on 20 observations for each variety in Nampa, Idaho. Descriptive Statistics # of seeds per pod Variable N Mean SD Minimum Maximum Huntington 20 6.1500 0.4894 5.0000 7.0000 Thompson 20 7.1500 0.9333 6.0000 9.0000 One-Way AOV for: Huntington and Thompson Comparison number seeds per pod Source DF SS MS F P Between 1 10.0000 10.0000 18.01 0.0001 Within 38 21.1000 0.5553 Total 39 31.1000 Grand Mean 6.6500 CV 11.21 Homogeneity of Variances F P Levene's Test 9.13 0.0045 O'Brien's Test 8.65 0.0056 Brown and Forsythe Test 10.0 0.0031 Welch's Test for Mean Differences Source DF F P Between 1.0 18.01 0.0002 Within 28.7 Component of variance for between groups 0.47224 Effective cell size 20.0 Variable Mean Huntington 6.1500 Thompson 7.1500 Observations per Mean 20 Standard Error of a Mean 0.1666 Std Error (Diff of 2 Means) 0.2356 LSD All-Pairwise Comparisons Test Variable Mean Homogeneous Groups Thompson 7.1500 A Huntington 6.1500 B Alpha 0.05 Standard Error for Comparison 0.2356 Critical T Value 2.024 Critical Value for Comparison 0.4770 All 2 means are significantly different from one another.

TABLE 3 Plant Width comparison between Thompson and Huntington based on 20 observations for each variety in Nampa, Idaho. Descriptive Statistics for Plant Width Comparison Variable N Mean SD Minimum Maximum Huntington 20 28.800 0.5231 28.000 30.000 Thompson 20 54.800 0.5231 53.000 55.000 One-Way AOV for: Huntington and Thompson on Plant Width Comparison Source DF SS MS F P Between 1 6760.00 6760.00 24700.0 0.0000 Within 38 10.40 0.27 Total 39 6770.40 Grand Mean 41.800 CV 1.25 Homogeneity of Variances F P Levene's Test 0.00 1.0000 O'Brien's Test 0.00 1.0000 Brown and Forsythe Test 0.40 0.5287 Welch's Test for Mean Differences Source DF F P Between 1.0 24700.0 0.0000 Within 38.0 Component of variance for between groups 337.986 Effective cell size 20.0 Variable Mean Huntington 28.800 Thompson 54.800 Observations per Mean 20 Standard Error of a Mean 0.1170 Std Error (Diff of 2 Means) 0.1654 LSD All-Pairwise Comparisons Test Variable Mean Homogeneous Groups Thompson 54.800 A Huntington 28.800 B Alpha 0.05 Standard Error for Comparison 0.1654 Critical T Value 2.024 Critical Value for Comparison 0.3349 All 2 means are significantly different from one another.

Tissue Culture.

Further reproduction of bean plants of the variety can occur by tissue culture and regeneration. Tissue culture of various tissues of bean and regeneration of plants therefrom is well known and widely published. For example, reference may be had to Teng, et al., HortScience, 27:9, 1030-1032 (1992); Teng, et al., HortScience, 28:6, 669-1671 (1993); Zhang, et al., Journal of Genetics and Breeding, 46:3, 287-290 (1992); Webb, et al., Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture, 38:1, 77-79 (1994); Curtis, et al., Journal of Experimental Botany, 45:279, 1441-1449 (1994); Nagata, et al., Journal for the American Society for Horticultural Science, 125:6, 669-672 (2000); and Ibrahim, et al., Plant Cell Tissue and Organ Culture, 28(2), 139-145 (1992). It is clear from the literature that the state of the art is such that these methods of obtaining plants are routinely used and have a very high rate of success. Thus, another aspect of this invention is to provide cells which upon growth and differentiation produce bean plants having desired characteristics of bean cultivar Thompson (e.g., as described herein, in particular, in Tables 1 to 3). Optionally, bean plants can be regenerated from the tissue culture of the invention comprising all or essentially all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of bean cultivar Thompson.

As used herein, the term “tissue culture” indicates a composition comprising isolated cells of the same or a different type or a collection of such cells organized into parts of a plant. Exemplary types of tissue cultures are protoplasts, calli, meristematic cells, and plant cells that can generate tissue culture that are intact in plants or parts of plants, such as leaves, pollen, embryos, roots, root tips, anthers, pistils, flowers, seeds, petioles, suckers, pods, berries, and the like. Means for preparing and maintaining plant tissue culture are well known in the art. By way of example, a tissue culture comprising organs has been used to produce regenerated plants. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,959,185, 5,973,234, and 5,977,445 describe certain techniques.

Additional Breeding Methods.

This invention is also directed to methods for producing a bean plant by crossing a first parent bean plant with a second parent bean plant wherein the first or second parent bean plant is a plant of bean cultivar Thompson. Further, both first and second parent bean plant can come from bean cultivar Thompson. Thus, any of the following exemplary methods using bean cultivar Thompson are part of this invention: selfing, backcrosses, hybrid production, crosses to populations, double haploid production, and the like. All plants produced using bean cultivar Thompson as at least one parent are within the scope of this invention, including those developed from bean plants derived from bean cultivar Thompson. Advantageously, bean cultivar Thompson can be used in crosses with other, different, bean plants to produce the first generation (F₁) bean hybrid seeds and plants with desirable characteristics. The bean plants of the invention can also be used for transformation where exogenous transgenes are introduced and expressed by the plants of the invention. Genetic variants created either through traditional breeding methods or through transformation of the cultivars of the invention by any of a number of protocols known to those of skill in the art are intended to be within the scope of this invention.

The following describes exemplary breeding methods that may be used with bean cultivar Thompson in the development of further bean plants. One such embodiment is a method for developing bean cultivar Thompson progeny bean plants in a bean plant breeding program comprising: obtaining a plant, or a part thereof, of bean cultivar Thompson, utilizing said plant or plant part as a source of breeding material, and selecting a bean cultivar Thompson progeny plant with molecular markers in common with bean cultivar Thompson and/or with some, all or essentially all morphological and/or physiological characteristics of bean cultivar Thompson (e.g., as described herein, in particular, in Tables 1 to 3). In representative embodiments, the progeny plant has at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more of the morphological and physiological characteristics of bean cultivar Thompson (e.g., as described herein, in particular, in Tables 1 to 3), or even all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of bean cultivar Thompson so that said progeny bean plant is not significantly different for said traits than bean cultivar Thompson, as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions; optionally, with the presence of one or more desired additional traits (e.g., male sterility, disease resistance, pest or insect resistance, herbicide resistance, and the like). Breeding steps that may be used in the breeding program include pedigree breeding, backcrossing, mutation breeding and/or recurrent selection. In conjunction with these steps, techniques such as RFLP-enhanced selection, genetic marker enhanced selection (for example, SSR markers) and/or and the making of double haploids may be utilized.

Another representative method involves producing a population of bean cultivar Thompson progeny plants, comprising crossing bean cultivar Thompson with another bean plant, thereby producing a population of bean plants that, on average, derives 50% of its alleles (i.e., TAC) from bean cultivar Thompson. A plant of this population may be selected and repeatedly selfed or sibbed with a bean plant resulting from these successive filial generations or backcrossed to bean cultivar Thompson. Another approach is to make double haploid plants to achieve homozygosity. One embodiment of this invention is a bean plant produced by these methods and that has obtained at least 50% of its alleles from bean cultivar Thompson. In embodiments, the methods of the invention produce a population of bean plants that, on average, derives at least 6.25%, 12.5%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% of its alleles (i.e., TAC) from bean cultivar Thompson, e.g., at least about 6.25%, 12.5%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% of the genetic complement of bean cultivar Thompson. One representative embodiment of this invention is the bean plant produced by the methods of the invention and that has obtained at least 6.25%, 12.5%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% of its alleles (i.e., TAC) from bean cultivar Thompson, and optionally is the result of a breeding process comprising one or two breeding crosses and one or more of selfing, sibbing, backcrossing and/or double haploid techniques in any combination and any order. In embodiments, the breeding process does not include a breeding cross, and comprises selfing, sibbing, backcrossing and or double haploid technology.

One of ordinary skill in the art of plant breeding would know how to evaluate the traits of two plant varieties to determine if there is no significant difference between the two traits expressed by those varieties. For example, see Fehr and Walt, Principles of Cultivar Development, pp. 261-286 (1987). In embodiments, the invention encompasses progeny plants having a combination of at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more of the characteristics as described herein (e.g., Tables 1 to 3) for bean cultivar Thompson, so that said progeny bean plant is not significantly different for said traits than bean cultivar Thompson, as determined at the 5% significance level when grown in the same environmental conditions. Using techniques described herein and those known in the art, molecular markers may be used to identify said progeny plant as progeny of bean cultivar Thompson. Mean trait values may be used to determine whether trait differences are significant, and optionally the traits are measured on plants grown under the same environmental conditions.

Progeny of bean cultivar Thompson may also be characterized through their filial relationship with bean cultivar Thompson, as for example, being within a certain number of breeding crosses of bean cultivar Thompson. A breeding cross is a cross made to introduce new genetics into the progeny, and is distinguished from a cross, such as a self or a sib cross or a backcross to Thompson as a recurrent parent, made to select among existing genetic alleles. The lower the number of breeding crosses in the pedigree, the closer the relationship between bean cultivar Thompson and its progeny. For example, progeny produced by the methods described herein may be within 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or more breeding crosses of bean cultivar Thompson.

In representative embodiments, a bean plant derived from bean cultivar Thompson comprises cells comprising at least one set of chromosomes derived from bean cultivar Thompson.

In embodiments, the bean plant or population of bean plants derived from bean cultivar Thompson comprises, on average, at least 6.25%, 12.5%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% of its alleles from bean cultivar Thompson, e.g., at least 6.25%, 12.5%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% of the genetic complement of bean cultivar Thompson, and optionally is the result of a breeding process comprising one or two breeding crosses and one or more of selfing, sibbing, backcrossing and/or double haploid techniques in any combination and any order. In embodiments, the breeding process does not include a breeding cross, and comprises selfing, sibbing, backcrossing and or double haploid technology. In embodiments, the bean plant derived from bean cultivar Thompson is one, two, three, four, five or more breeding crosses removed from bean cultivar Thompson.

In representative embodiments, a plant derived from bean cultivar Thompson is a double haploid plant, a hybrid plant or an inbred plant.

In embodiments, a hybrid or derived plant from bean cultivar Thompson comprises a desired added trait. In representative embodiments, a bean plant derived from bean cultivar Thompson comprises all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of bean cultivar Thompson (e.g., as described herein, in particular, in Tables 1 to 3). In embodiments, the bean plant derived from bean cultivar Thompson comprises all or essentially all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of bean cultivar Thompson (e.g., as described herein, in particular, in Tables 1 to 3), with the addition of a desired added trait.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any of the traits described above with respect to plant transformation methods can be introduced into a plant of the invention (e.g., bean cultivar Thompson and hybrid bean plants and other bean plants derived therefrom) using breeding techniques.

Genetic Transformation.

With the advent of molecular biological techniques that have allowed the isolation and characterization of genes that encode specific protein products, scientists in the field of plant biology developed a strong interest in engineering the genome of plants to contain and express foreign nucleic acids including additional or modified versions of native (endogenous) nucleic acids (optionally driven by a non-native promoter) in order to alter the traits of a plant in a specific manner. Any nucleic acid sequences, whether from a different species, the same species or an artificial sequence, which are introduced into the genome using transformation or various breeding methods, are referred to herein collectively as “transgenes.” Over the last fifteen to twenty years, several methods for producing transgenic plants have been developed, and in particular embodiments the present invention also relates to transformed versions of the plants disclosed herein.

Genetic engineering techniques can be used (alone or in combination with breeding methods) to introduce one or more desired added traits into plant, for example, bean cultivar Thompson or progeny or bean plants derived thereof. Once a transgene has been introduction into a plant by genetic transformation, it can be transferred to other plants via conventional breeding.

Plant transformation generally involves the construction of an expression vector that will function in plant cells. Optionally, such a vector comprises one or more nucleic acids comprising a coding sequence for a polypeptide or an untranslated functional RNA under control of, or operatively linked to, a regulatory element (for example, a promoter). In representative embodiments, the vector(s) may be in the form of a plasmid, and can be used alone or in combination with other plasmids, to provide transformed bean plants using transformation methods as described herein to incorporate transgenes into the genetic material of the bean plant.

Additional methods include, but are not limited to, expression vectors introduced into plant tissues using a direct nucleic acid transfer method, such as microprojectile-mediated delivery (e.g., with a biolistic device), DNA injection, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, electroporation, and the like. Transformed plants obtained from the plants (and parts and tissue culture thereof) of the invention are intended to be within the scope of this invention.

Expression Vectors for Plant Transformation—Selectable Markers.

Expression vectors typically include at least one nucleic acid comprising or encoding a selectable marker, operably linked to a regulatory element (for example, a promoter) that allows transformed cells containing the marker to be either recovered by negative selection, e.g., inhibiting growth of cells that do not contain the selectable marker, or by positive selection, e.g., screening for the product encoded by the selectable marker. Many commonly used selectable markers for plant transformation are well known in the transformation art, and include, for example, nucleic acids that code for enzymes that metabolically detoxify a selective chemical agent which may be an antibiotic or an herbicide, or nucleic acids that encode an altered target which is insensitive to the inhibitor. Positive selection methods are also known in the art.

Commonly used selectable markers in plants include, but are not limited to: neomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII) conferring resistance to kanamycin, hygromycin phosphotransferase conferring resistance to the antibiotic hygromycin, bacterial selectable markers that confer resistance to antibiotics (e.g., gentamycin acetyl transferase, streptomycin phosphotransferase, and aminoglycoside-3′-adenyl transferase, selectable markers conferring resistance to herbicides (e.g., glyphosate, glufosinate, or bromoxynil). Selection of transformed plant cells can also be based on screening presumptively transformed plant cells rather than direct genetic selection of transformed cells for resistance to a toxic substance such as an antibiotic; such markers include without limitation alpha-glucuronidase (GUS), alpha-galactosidase, luciferase, and Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) and mutant GFPs.

Expression Vectors for Plant Transformation—Promoters.

Transgenes included in expression vectors are generally driven by a nucleotide sequence comprising a regulatory element (for example, a promoter). Numerous types of promoters are well known in the transformation arts, as are other regulatory elements that can be used alone or in combination with promoters.

As used herein, “promoter” includes reference to a region of DNA upstream from the start of transcription and involved in recognition and binding of RNA polymerase and other proteins to initiate transcription. A “plant promoter” is a promoter capable of initiating transcription in plant cells.

Examples of promoters under developmental control include promoters that preferentially initiate transcription in certain tissues, such as leaves, roots, seeds, fibers, xylem vessels, tracheids, or sclerenchyma. Such promoters are referred to as “tissue-preferred.” Promoters that initiate transcription only in certain tissue are referred to as “tissue-specific.” A “cell type” specific promoter preferentially drives expression in certain cell types in one or more organs, for example, vascular cells in roots or leaves. An “inducible” promoter is a promoter that is under environmental control. Examples of environmental conditions that may affect transcription by inducible promoters include anaerobic conditions or the presence of light. Tissue-specific, tissue-preferred, cell type specific, and inducible promoters constitute the class of “non-constitutive” promoters. A “constitutive” promoter is a promoter that is active under most environmental conditions.

Many suitable promoters are known in the art and can be selected and used to achieve the desired outcome.

Signal Sequences for Targeting Proteins to Subcellular Compartments.

Transport of polypeptides produced by transgenes to a subcellular compartment such as the chloroplast, vacuole, peroxisome, glyoxysome, cell wall, or mitochondrion, or for secretion into the apoplast, is generally accomplished by means of operably linking a nucleotide sequence encoding a signal sequence to the 5′ and/or 3′ region of a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide of interest. Signal sequences at the 5′ and/or 3′ end of the coding sequence target the polypeptide to particular subcellular compartments.

The presence of a signal sequence can direct a polypeptide to either an intracellular organelle or subcellular compartment or for secretion to the apoplast. Many signal sequences are known in the art. See, for example, Becker, et al., Plant Mol. Biol., 20:49 (1992); Close, P. S., Master's Thesis, Iowa State University (1993); Knox, C., et al., “Structure and Organization of Two Divergent Alpha-Amylase Genes from Barley,” Plant Mol. Biol., 9:3-17 (1987); Lerner, et al., Plant Physiol., 91:124-129 (1989); Fontes, et al., Plant Cell, 3:483-496 (1991); Matsuoka, et al., PNAS, 88:834 (1991); Gould, et al., J. Cell. Biol., 108:1657 (1989); Creissen, et al., Plant J, 2:129 (1991); Kalderon, et al., A short amino acid sequence able to specify nuclear location, Cell, 39:499-509 (1984); and Steifel, et al., Expression of a maize cell wall hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein gene in early leaf and root vascular differentiation, Plant Cell, 2:785-793 (1990).

Foreign Polypeptide Transgenes and Agronomic Transgenes.

With transgenic plants according to the present invention, a foreign protein can be produced in commercial quantities. Thus, techniques for the selection and propagation of transformed plants, which are well understood in the art, yield a plurality of transgenic plants which are harvested in a conventional manner, and a foreign polypeptide then can be extracted from a tissue of interest or from total biomass. Protein extraction from plant biomass can be accomplished by known methods which are discussed, for example, by Heney and Orr, Anal. Biochem., 114:92-6 (1981). According to a representative embodiment, the transgenic plant provided for commercial production of foreign protein is a bean plant of the invention. In another embodiment, the biomass of interest is seed and/or fruit.

Likewise, by means of the present invention, agronomic transgenes and other desired added traits can be expressed in transformed plants (and their progeny, e.g., produced by breeding methods). More particularly, plants can be genetically engineered to express various phenotypes of agronomic interest or other desired added traits. Exemplary nucleic acids of interest in this regard conferring a desired added trait(s) include, but are not limited to, those transgenes that confer resistance to confer resistance to plant pests (e.g., nematode or insect) or disease (e.g., fungal, bacterial or viral), transgenes that confer herbicide tolerance, transgenes that confer male sterility, and transgenes that confer or contribute to a value-added trait such as increased nutrient content (e.g., iron, nitrate), increased sweetness (e.g., by introducing a transgene coding for monellin), modified fatty acid metabolism (for example, by introducing into a plant an antisense sequence directed against stearyl-ACP desaturase to increase stearic acid content of the plant), modified carbohydrate composition (e.g., by introducing into plants a transgene coding for an enzyme that alters the branching pattern of starch), modified fruit color (e.g., external fruit color and/or fruit flesh), or modified flavor profile of the fruit.

In embodiments, the transgene encodes a non-translated RNA (e.g., RNAi) that is expressed to produce targeted inhibition of gene expression, thereby conferring the desired trait on the plant.

In embodiments, the transgene encodes the machinery used for gene editing techniques.

Any transgene, including those exemplified above, can be introduced into the bean plants of the invention through a variety of means including, but not limited to, transformation (e.g., genetic engineering techniques), conventional breeding, and introgression methods to introduce the transgene into other genetic backgrounds.

Methods for Plant Transformation.

Numerous methods for plant transformation have been developed, including biological and physical plant transformation protocols. See, for example, Miki, et al., “Procedures for Introducing Foreign DNA into Plants” in Methods in Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Glick and Thompson Eds., CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, pp. 67-88 (1993). In addition, expression vectors and in vitro culture methods for plant cell or tissue transformation and regeneration of plants are available. See, for example, Gruber, et al., “Vectors for Plant Transformation” in Methods in Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Glick and Thompson Eds., CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, pp. 89-119 (1993). Commonly used plant transformation methods include agrobacterium-mediated transformation and direct transgene transfer methods (e.g., microprojectile-mediated transformation, sonication, liposome or spheroplast fusion, and electroporation of protoplasts or whole cells).

Following transformation of plant target tissues, expression of selectable marker transgenes (e.g., as described above) allows for preferential selection of transformed cells, tissues and/or plants, using regeneration and selection methods now well known in the art.

The foregoing methods for transformation are typically used to produce a transgenic bean line. The transgenic bean line can then be crossed with another (non-transgenic or transgenic) line in order to produce a new transgenic bean line. Alternatively, a transgene that has been engineered into a particular plant using transformation techniques can be introduced into another plant or line using traditional breeding (e.g., backcrossing) techniques that are well known in the plant breeding arts. For example, a backcrossing approach can be used to move an engineered transgene from a public, non-elite inbred line into an elite inbred line, or from an inbred line containing a foreign transgene in its genome into an inbred line or lines which do not contain that transgene. As used herein, “crossing” can refer to a simple X by Y cross, or the process of backcrossing, depending on the context.

Locus Conversions.

When the term “bean plant” is used in the context of the present invention, this term also includes any locus conversions of that plant or variety. The term “locus converted plant” as used herein refers to those bean plants that are developed, for example, by backcrossing, genome editing, genetic transformation and/or mutation, wherein essentially all of the desired morphological and physiological characteristics of a variety are recovered in addition to the one or more loci introduced into the variety. To illustrate, backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improve or introduce a characteristic into the variety. The term “backcrossing” as used herein refers to the repeated crossing of a hybrid progeny back to the recurrent parent, e.g., backcrossing 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or more times to the recurrent parent. The parental plant that contributes the locus/loci for the desired characteristic(s) is termed the “nonrecurrent” or “donor parent.” This terminology refers to the fact that the nonrecurrent parent is generally used one time in the breeding e.g., backcross) protocol and therefore does not recur. The locus that is transferred can be a native gene, a mutated native gene (e.g., naturally occurring, by chemical or radiation mutagenesis, or by genome editing) or a transgene introduced by genetic engineering techniques into the plant (or ancestor thereof). The parental plant into which the locus/loci from the nonrecurrent parent are transferred is known as the “recurrent” parent as it is used for multiple rounds in the backcrossing protocol. Poehlman & Sleper (1994) and Fehr (1993). In a typical backcross protocol, the original variety of interest (recurrent parent) is crossed to a second variety (nonrecurrent parent) that carries the locus/loci of interest to be transferred. The resulting progeny from this cross are then crossed again to the recurrent parent and the process is repeated until a plant is obtained wherein essentially all of the desired morphological and physiological characteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered in the converted plant in addition to the transferred locus/loci and associated trait(s) from the nonrecurrent parent.

Genetic Analysis of Bean Cultivar Thompson.

The invention further provides a method of determining a genetic characteristic of bean cultivar Thompson or a progeny thereof, e.g., a method of determining a genotype of bean cultivar Thompson or a progeny thereof. In embodiments, the method comprises detecting in the genome of a Thompson plant, or a progeny plant thereof, at least a first polymorphism. To illustrate, in embodiments, the method comprises obtaining a sample of nucleic acids from the plant and detecting at least a first polymorphism in the nucleic acid sample. Optionally, the method may comprise detecting a plurality of polymorphisms (e.g., two or more, three or more, four or more, five or more, six or more, eight or more or ten or more polymorphisms, etc.) in the genome of the plant. In representative embodiments, the method further comprises storing the results of the step of detecting the polymorphism(s) on a computer readable medium. The invention further provides a computer readable medium produced by such a method.

DEPOSIT INFORMATION

Applicants have made a deposit of at least 2500 seeds of garden bean cultivar Thompson with the Provasoli-Guillard National Center for Marine Algae and Microbiota (NCMA) at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, 60 Bigelow Drive, East Boothbay, Me., 04544 U.S.A. under NCMA Accession No ______. This deposit of garden bean variety Thompson will be maintained in the NCMA depository, which is a public depository, for a period of 30 years, or 5 years after the most recent request, or for the effective life of the patent, whichever is longer, and will be replaced if any of the deposited seed becomes nonviable during that period. Additionally, Applicants have satisfied all the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.801-1.809, including providing an indication of the viability of the samples. During the pendency of this application, access to the deposited material will be afforded to the Commissioner on request. All restrictions on the availability of the deposited material from the NCMA to the public will be irrevocably removed upon granting of the patent. Applicants impose no restrictions on the availability of the deposited material from the NCMA; however, Applicants have no authority to waive any restrictions imposed by law on the transfer of biological material or its transportation in commerce. Applicants do not waive any infringement of its rights granted under this patent or under the Plant Variety Protection Act (7 USC § 2321 et seq.).

Access to this deposit will be available during the pendency of this application to persons determined by the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks to be entitled thereto under 37 C.F.R. § 1.14 and 35 U.S.C. § 122. Upon allowance of any claims in this application, all restrictions on the availability to the public of the variety will be irrevocably removed by affording access to the NCMA seed deposit.

The foregoing invention has been described in detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding. However, it will be apparent that certain changes and modifications such as single gene modifications and mutations, somaclonal variants, variant individuals selected from large populations of the plants of the instant inbred and the like may be practiced within the scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A seed of bean cultivar Thompson, a representative sample of seed of said cultivar having been deposited under NCMA Accession No. ______.
 2. A plant of bean cultivar Thompson, a representative sample of seed of said bean cultivar having been deposited under NCMA Accession No. ______.
 3. A bean plant, or a plant part thereof, having all the physiological and morphological characteristics of the bean plant of claim
 2. 4. An F1 progeny bean plant of the plant of claim
 2. 5. A doubled haploid bean plant produced from the plant of claim
 2. 6. A plant part of the bean plant of claim
 2. 7. The plant part of claim 6, wherein the plant part is a pod, a berry, pollen, an ovule, an anther, or a cell.
 8. A tissue culture of regenerable cells of the plant of claim
 2. 9. A bean plant regenerated from the tissue culture of claim 8, wherein said bean plant comprises all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of bean cultivar Thompson.
 10. A converted bean plant produced by introducing a single locus conversion into the plant of claim 2, wherein said converted bean plant comprises said single locus conversion and otherwise comprises all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of bean cultivar Thompson.
 11. A processed product from the plant of claim 2, wherein said processed product comprises dehydrated, cut, sliced, ground, pureed, dried, canned, jarred, washed, brined, packaged, refrigerated, frozen and/or heated pods, berries or seeds.
 12. A method of producing seed, the method comprising crossing the plant of claim 2 with itself or a second bean plant and harvesting the resulting seed.
 13. An F1 seed produced by the method of claim
 12. 14. An F1 plant produced by growing the seed of claim
 13. 15. A method for producing a seed of a bean plant derived from the plant of claim 2, the method comprising: (a) crossing a plant of bean cultivar Thompson with a second bean plant; (b) allowing seed to form; (c) growing a plant from the seed of step (b) to produce a plant derived from bean cultivar Thompson; (d) selfing the plant of step (c) or crossing it to a second bean plant to form additional bean seed derived from bean cultivar Thompson; and (e) optionally repeating steps (c) and (d) one or more times to generate further derived bean seed from bean cultivar Thompson, wherein in step (c) a plant is grown from the additional bean seed of step (d) in place of growing a plant from the seed of step (b).
 16. A seed produced by the method of claim 15, wherein the seed is within one breeding cross of bean cultivar Cardinal.
 17. A plant, or part thereof, produced by growing the seed of claim
 16. 18. A method of vegetatively propagating the plant of claim 2, the method comprising: (a) collecting tissue capable of being propagated from a plant of bean cultivar Thompson; (b) cultivating the tissue to obtain proliferated shoots; (c) rooting the proliferated shoots to obtain rooted plantlets; and (d) optionally, growing plants from the rooted plantlets.
 19. A bean plantlet or plant obtained by the method of claim 18, wherein said plant comprises all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of bean cultivar Thompson.
 20. A method of introducing a desired added trait into bean cultivar Thompson, the method comprising: (a) crossing the plant of claim 2 with a bean plant that comprises a desired added trait to produce F1 progeny; (b) selecting an F1 progeny that comprises the desired added trait; (c) crossing the selected F1 progeny with bean cultivar Thompson to produce backcross progeny; (d) selecting backcross progeny comprising the desired added trait; and (e) optionally repeating steps (c) and (d) one or more times to produce a plant derived from bean cultivar Thompson comprising the desired added trait and otherwise all of the physiological and morphological characteristics of bean cultivar Thompson, wherein in step (c) the selected backcross progeny produced in step (d) is used in place of the selected F1 progeny of step (b).
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the desired added trait is male sterility, pest resistance, insect resistance, disease resistance, herbicide resistance, or any combination thereof.
 22. A bean plant produced by the method of claim 21, wherein the bean plant has the desired added trait.
 23. Seed that produces the plant of claim
 22. 24. A method of producing a plant of bean cultivar Thompson comprising a desired added trait, the method comprising introducing a transgene conferring the desired added trait into the plant of claim
 2. 25. A bean plant produced by the method of claim 24, wherein the bean plant has the desired added trait and otherwise all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of bean cultivar Thompson.
 26. A seed of the plant of claim 25, wherein the seed produces a plant that has the desired added trait and all of the morphological and physiological characteristics of bean cultivar Thompson.
 27. A method of producing a bean pod, the method comprising: (a) growing the bean plant according to claim 2 to produce a bean pod; and (b) harvesting the bean pod.
 28. A method of producing a processed product from bean cultivar Thompson, the method comprising: (a) obtaining a pod of the plant of claim 2; and (b) processing said pod to produce a processed product.
 29. A method of producing a seed from bean cultivar Thompson, the method comprising: (a) obtaining a pod of the plant of claim 2; and (b) processing said pod to produce a seed.
 30. A method of developing a bean line in a bean plant breeding program using plant breeding techniques, the method comprising employing a bean plant, or a part thereof, as a source of plant breeding material, comprising: (a) obtaining the bean plant, or a part thereof, of claim 2 as a source of breeding material; and (b) applying plant breeding techniques. 